DOST will build ADMATEL to help local semicon and electronics industries

At the ground breaking ceremony for the Advanced Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL) held last September 3, 2012, DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo emphasized the role of science and technology in fueling economic activity.

“Building technological infrastructures like the ADMATEL creates an enabling environment for scientists and inventors to create more products and investors to come to our country,” Sec. Montejo said.

ADMATEL is envisioned to improve competitiveness of our local companies as well as attract potential investors in the semiconductor and electronics industry—considered one of the most important industrial sectors in terms of export and employment.

The facility aims to provide less expensive analysis and shorter turn-around time for companies. At present, local semi-conductor and electronics manufacturers have to send their materials to other countries like Singapore for failure analysis.

Failure analysis is the process of collecting and analyzing data to determine the cause/s of failure of components (like circuit boards etc.) using a wide array of methods, especially microscopy and spectroscopy. It is important in electronics and semiconductor industry in the development of new products and for the improvement of existing products.

Industrial Technology and Development Institute (ITDI) of DOST will implement the project and manage the said facility.

“We hope that through the establishment of ADMATEL, our country will be a hub for failure analysis in the Asia Pacific Region in the future,” said ITDI Director Dr. Nuna E. Almanzor.

The P300 million project funded by DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) will entail renovation of the Electronics Process and Control Division (EPCD) building and the acquisition of failure analysis equipment such as augerelectron spectroscope, field emission scanning electron microscope, and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometer.

To better serve the local industries’ needs, ADMATEL will operate for 24 hours. The building will also have lecture rooms, conference rooms, and dormitories for clients.

Dr. Almanzor revealed that ITDI is currently conducting trainings on failure analysis and materials characterization for the personnel that will run ADMATEL in preparation for its inauguration and operation on December 12, 2012. ###